A century ago, the midnight howls of the Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) sounded from hill tops in southern Arizona, New Mexico and Texas south to central Mexico. But cattle ranchers who cleared forest for pastureland virtually eradicated the wolf, which they condemned for killing cattle. By 1970, the animal had disappeared completely from the United States, notes biologist and Mexican wolf specialist Oscar Moctezuma. Perhaps 50 individuals remained in Mexico.
Moctezuma leads a dogged campaign funded by Naturalia, a conservation group based in Mexico City, designed to save the Mexican wolf. Naturalia's crusade supports captive breeding programs, mounts expeditions to locate wild wolf populations, and conducts an environmental education campaign to dispel malicious wolf myths.
Treks organized by Naturalia in 1993 and 1994 turned up no definitive evidence of wild wolves. But Moctezuma is optimistic that an expedition planned for next January will be fruitful, since a noted biologist has confirmed hearing wolf howls in the hills of Durango, in northwest Mexico.
Through the media, Naturalia gets out the message that Mexican wolves are not vicious, bloodthirsty animals. "A myth widely spread by ranchers is that all wolves kill cattle," Moctezuma says. "But only a few do this and only because their natural prey is so scarce. On the other hand, studies have demonstrated the enormous value of the role the wolf plays in its ecosystem." Naturalia's campaign is funded through the sale of wolf tee- shirts, mugs and posters.
If the 1996 search confirms a wild population, Naturalia will push to protect the region. Moctezuma also hopes the group can help identify a reserve where captive-bred wolves could be reintroduced. Education campaigns will be needed then more than ever, he says. To prevent ranchers from again slaughtering the species, he suggests the government establish a fund to compensate them for any cattle lost.
Contact: Oscar Moctezuma, Naturalia, Apdo. 21-541, Mexico 04021, DF; Phone: 52-5-6746678; Fax: 6745294.